Book cheap flights to Beijing with Globehunters and find yourself in the heart of one of the busiest and most exciting countries on the planet.

This huge city has become much more popular with Western travellers in the last few years, with lots of new hotels, bars, and shops always being built.

Beijing is over 3,000 years old, but it’s a very modern city, with much to explore throughout its narrow hutongs (alleyways).

The main sights include Tiananmen Square, where footage of the 1989 protests were broadcast around the world, the Forbidden City, an ancient Ming dynasty palace, and the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium which was built for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Aside from these main attractions, the city is also home a number of art galleries and museums, most of which are found in the Gashanzi Art District and open green spaces to allow you to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of this busy metropolis.

Once the sun goes down, treat yourself to a culinary feast, whether it be a local eatery serving up traditional Chinese food or one of the many stalls serving up street food.

If you head a little further out of the city itself, you can visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China, or head out to the Summer Palace, a beautifully designed summer getaway for Chinese emperors, featuring ancient temples, bridges and pavilions by a calm lake.

If you fancy visiting this exciting and historic Far Eastern city, be sure to check out our cheap flights to Beijing here at Globehunters.

Flying to Beijing from the UK

Here’s everything that you’ll need to know when booking your flights from the UK to Beijing, including flight times and airlines.

Flight Times

The average direct flight time from the UK to Beijing is around nine and a half to ten hours, with indirect flights via airports such as Dubai, Amsterdam, and Istanbul taking an excess of twelve hours.

Entry Requirements

British citizens will require a visa to visit Beijing, and this must be arranged prior to your arrival.

Be sure not to outstay your visa or apply for the wrong type, as Chinese authorities are known to be very vigilant in checking them, and will fine or detain you if you don’t have a valid one.

Your passport will also need to be valid for at least six months from the date of your visa application, and you must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of your arrival, a law which is regularly enforced through spot-checks, although registration is undertaken on your behalf if you’re staying at a hotel.

Airlines That Fly to Beijing

The following airlines offer direct flights from the UK to Beijing, with various others offering indirect routes:

- Air China
- British Airways
- Hainan Airlines

The Airport

Flights from the UK currently only land at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), although a secondary airport, Beijing Daxing is currently under construction.

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

Beijing’s airport is the second busiest in the world, with three terminals located about 20 miles northeast of the city centre in the Shunyi district.

The airport is served by the Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway, which runs from Terminals 2 and 3 to the city, with stops at Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen, with a one-way trip taking about 16-20 minutes and costing ¥25 (£2.80).

There’s also a bus service which runs to various locations such as Xidan, Beijing Railway Station, Beijing South Station, Beijing West Station, Zhongguancun, Fangzhuang and Shangdi, at a cost of ¥16 (£1.80) per ride.

A taxi from the airport into central Beijing will cost about ¥150 (£17).

Popular Routes

Popular routes to Beijing from the UK include:

- London to Beijing flights
- Manchester to Beijing flights

10 Beijing Must-Dos

Here are our top ten things to see and do in Beijing which should be right at the top of your to-do list: